April 27th, 2009

Hi all. I have a question for some of you. But before that, I want to tell you what this is not... This is not an invitation to revisit the LCMS/ELCA pissing contests that have erupted here in the past. This is not me seeking to correct anyone on their doctrine or beliefs.

What this is is me seeking to understand the perspective of people who believe differently than me. So please listen to my heart rather than my words, in case my combative nature seeps through, despite my best efforts to suppress it.

This was all brought about by a posting at a friend's Facebook, regarding the recent vote by Presbyterians to continue to disallow gay clergy. He seemed genuinely shocked by this development, which leads me to my question: If you do believe that gay clergy (or indeed the embracing of the gay lifestyle) is a good thing, what is your reasoning behind that belief? And how is that belief reconciled with the clear scriptural prohibition of said lifestyle?

And let me say for the record that by my own reasoning, the gay lifestyle is no big deal to me. I once belonged to the "build your own theology" school of thought that is so popular today, and my beliefs were probably in line with more liberal schools of thought. ("Liberal" is by no means used here as an insult, as is so often the case when dealing with conservatives.) However, after a long series of events I began to read the Bible and became convinced of God's omnipotence, and from that moment forward have believed that he is more than powerful enough to preserve his word through the ages. Therefore I trust it as being completely inerrant. So while I personally might not be able to see the harm in something, I trust in him to know better than I do what is good for us, and in that faith I go by his word rather than my own understanding of what might be right or wrong.

And please do not take this as me attempting to tell you why you should believe as I do. No, I tell you all of this so that you may understand my point of view. As I said before, I come not seeking an argument, but understanding of a different perspective.

If you would be so kind, I would ask any of you who respond to limit yourself to explaining why you believe as you do, as opposed to elucidating why one side or the other needs to change. I do not want this to become contentious, and ask that we all speak kindly and gently.

Comments:

I've now met two LCMS pastors who had been married and divorced before they went to seminary. One remarried before, and I'm not sure when the other remarried. Not aware of any who divorced during or after seminary, though.